Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PLANT GROWTH ENHANCING MIXTURE AND
METHOD OF APPLYING SAME
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates generally to a plant growth enhancing mixture
and its
methods of application to plant tissues to increase plant growth and
productivity.
Specifically, the invention relates to a combination of plant hormones or
other
molecules, which when optionally applied together with various minerals
including
nitrogen, produces an unexpected enhancement of the growth and development of
plant
tissues, including but not limited to vegetative, floral, seed, and fruiting
tissues.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] Plant growth and development as well as productivity (e.g., crops,
seeds, fruits
etc.) are known to be regulated by growth factors, mineral components and
small
molecules that signal for the expression of genes that enhance the level of
plant
productivity, whether in quantity or quality. Traditional approaches for
improving plant
productivity have included the application of various minerals and nitrogen
components
as necessary additions or substrates to crop plant or other plant
productivity. However,
such approaches have tended to knowingly, or unknowingly, disregard the growth
factors
(e.g., hormones and/or other small molecules) required for enhanced
productivity.
100031 More recent approaches for improving plant productivity have included
genetic
engineering techniques, such as manipulating genes not pre-disposed to affect
certain
targeted responses deemed to enhance productivity and/or adding other genes
that better
express the desired plant characteristics. While these transgenic approaches
certainly
have their advantages (e.g., disease/insect resistance, herbicide resistance,
larger
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crops/fruits, etc.), they have also been met with much public resistance as
being unsafe,
unnatural and possibly harmful to the environment.
100041 An alternative, more natural approach, which is becoming ever more
appreciated, is based upon the theory that plants already have the necessary
genes/genetic code to produce greater quantities and/or qualities of various
plant tissues
as well as to thrive in the face of common adversities, such as drought,
disease, and
insect infestations. But, to realize the full expression of this innate
genetic material and
the plant's full potential, the plant must receive various naturally-occurring
nutrients
and/or hormones in specific concentrations, at specific times during the
plant's growth,
and to specific parts or tissues of the plant. U.S. Patent 6,040,273,
incorporated by
reference, and U.S. Patent Application Publications 2005/0043177 and
2005/0197253
provide some examples of work in this area. Considering the sheer amount of
research
into techniques and compositions to improve food production as well as the
continual
need for greater food production to feed an exponential human population
growth, there
is a long felt and unfulfilled need for improved methods and compositions to
improve
plant productivities.
3. Identification of Objects of the Invention
100051 An object of the invention is to accomplish one or more of the
following:
100061 Provide a chemical composition or mixture that stimulates plant growth
and
productivity;
100071 Provide a chemical composition or mixture that facilitates and/or
increases
nitrogen utilization by plants;
[0008] Provide a mixture or combination of one or more plant hormones, one or
more
minerals, and nitrogen compounds that enhance the growth of crop and other
plants.
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100091 Provide a method of applying a chemical mixture and/or combination
comprising one or more plant hormones, one or more minerals, and nitrogen
compounds
that enhances the growth of plant tissues;
100101 Provide a chemical composition and method of applying same that
enhances
the disease resistance of plants, the pest tolerance of plants or the innate
immunity of
plants; and
100111 Provide a chemical composition and method of applying same that
enhances
the economic or other portion of plants by increasing the strength of weak and
strong
flowers.
100121 Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be
apparent to one
skilled in the art from the following specification and drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The objects identified above, along with other features and advantages
of the
invention are incorporated in a plant growth enhancing mixture comprising a
combination of at least the plant hoimones, cytokinin and gibberellin. The
plant growth
enhancing mixture may also include various minerals including one or more of
zinc,
calcium, boron, potassium and nitrogen. While the plant growth enhancing
mixture may
include these minerals, such minerals are preferably not pre-mixed with the
plant
hormones due to the possibility of chemical precipitation. Instead, the plant
hormones
and the minerals are preferably applied concurrently, or at different times,
to the plants
and/or to the soil in which the plants are growing.
[0014] The plant growth enhancing mixture has been observed to increase the
extent
of cellular division and development of the vegetative, floral, seed, fruiting
or other
tissues of plants, when applied to the root system of the plants in whatever
growing
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medium that the plants are being propagated, grown or produced. Several
examples are
provided which demonstrate the statistically significant increase in plant
growth due to
the application of preferred implementations of the plant growth enhancing
mixture.
[0015] Application of the plant growth enhancing mixture has also been
unexpectedly
determined to impart disease and insect resistance not before seen in crop and
other
plants. Several examples demonstrate the efficacy of the plant growth
enhancing
mixture to inhibit various plant diseases, including but not limited to,
Sudden Death
Syndrome, potato zebra chip, tomato leaf curl virus and Phytophthora. The
plant growth
enhancing mixture has also been shown to strengthen both weak flowers and
normally
strong flowers when applied to the plants during flowering.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] By way of illustration and not limitation, the invention is described
in detail
hereinafter on the basis of the accompanying figures, in which:
[0017] Figure 1 is a black and white photograph illustrating, after four
weeks, the
comparative results of applying the plant growth enhancing mixture of a
preferred
implementation to growing tomato plants;
[0018] Figure 2 is a black and white photograph illustrating the comparative
results of
applying plant growth enhancing mixtures having varying amounts of nitrogen to
soybean plants;
100191 Figure 3 is a black and white photograph illustrating the comparative
results of
applying the plant growth enhancing mixture of a preferred implementation to
soybean
plants infected with Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS); and
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[0020] Figure 4 is a black and white photograph illustrating the comparative
results of
applying the plant growth enhancing mixture of a preferred implementation to
tomato
plants infected the with tomato leaf curl virus.
[0021] Figure 5 is a black and white photograph illustrating the comparative
results to
the growth of corn plant roots of applying the plant growth enhancing mixture
of a
preferred implementation of the present invention;
[0022] Figure 6 is a black and white photograph illustrating roots of an
untreated corn
plant, including the radicle roots;
[0023] Figure 7 is a black and white photograph illustrating roots of a corn
plant that
has been treated with the plant growth enhancing mixture of a preferred
implementation,
including the radicle roots and the mesocotyl;
100241 Figure 8 is a black and white photograph illustrating the comparative
results of
applying the plant growth enhancing mixture of a preferred implementation to
tomato
plants.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED IMPLEMENTATIONS
OF THE INVENTION
[0025] A preferred implementation of the invention addresses one or more of
the
deficiencies of the prior art and incorporates at least one of the objects
previously
identified. The invention employs a plant growth enhancing mixture comprising
a
specific combination/composition of chemical components and/or timing of their
application to growing plants that enhance the extent of cellular division and
development of vegetative, floral, seed, fruiting or other tissues of crop
plants or other
plants when applied together and/or at specific times to the roots of the
plants. Such
enhancement may take the form of an increase in the number and types of cells
and/or
cellular components and/or the quality of the plant tissues as measured by
tissue
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integrity, tissue color, tissue desirability in taste, if consumed, and
including all facets of
taste, biochemical components, tissue plasticity (or lack of same), tissue
strength or other
physical component or attributes. The plants referred to herein include any
and all crop
plants (referring to human or other biological organism consumption or
industrial
consumption) or ornamental and/or other plants that produce tissues that are
desirable
including, but not limited to, the leaves, parts of leaves or other tissues of
the plants or
flowers or seeds for use of the whole tissue or biochemical or physical
components of the
plant tissue.
In a preferred implementation, the plant growth enhancing mixture comprises an
aqueous blend of two plant hormones-cytokinin and gibberellin. As is well
known to
those skilled in the art, cytokinin and gibberellin may be obtained from
various natural
sources or they may be chemically synthesized. The gibberellin is preferably
selected
from one or more of the following: GA1, GA2, GA3, GA4, GA5, GA6, GA7, GA8,
GA9,
GAio, GA11, GA12, GA13, GA14, GA15, GA16, GA17, GA18, GA19, GA20, GA21, GA22,
GA23, GA24, GA25, GA26, GA27, GA28, GA29, GA30, GA31, GA32, GA33, GA34, GA35,
GA36, GA37, GA38, GA39, GA40, GA41, GA42, GA43, GA44, GA45, GA46, GA47, GA48,
GA49, GA50, GA51, GA52, GA53, GA54, GA55, GA56, GA57, GA58, GA59, GA60, GA61,
GA62, GA63, GA64, GA65, GA66, GA67, GA68, GA69, GA70, GA71, GA72, GA73, GA74,
GA75, GA76, GA77, GA78, GA79, GAN, GA81, GA82, GA83, GA84, GA85, GA86, GA87,
GA88, GA89, GA90, GA91, GA92, GA93, GA94, GA95, GA96, GA97, GA98, GA, GAloo,
GAioi, GA032, GA103, GA104, GA105, GA106, GA107, GA108, GA109, GA1 03, GA111,
GA112,
GA113, GA114, GA115, GA116, GA1175 GA118, GAI19, GAPO, GA121, GAI22, GA123,
GA124,
GA125, GAI26. The cytokinin is selected from one or more of the following:
zeatin,
various forms of zeatin, N6-benzyl adenine, N6-(delta-2-isopentyl) adenine,
1,3-diphenyl
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urea, thidiazuron, CPPU (forchlorfenuron), kinetin or other chemical
formulations with
cytokinin activity.
[0026] The preferred gibberellin is the gibberellic acid, GA3, and is present
in the
aqueous mixture in an amount such that the GA3 is between about 0.1 to 10
percent by
weight, more preferably between about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight and
most
preferably between about 0.075 to about 0.125 percent by weight. The preferred
cytokinin is kinetin and is present in the aqueous mixture in an amount such
that the
kinetin is between about 0.003 to 0.3 percent by weight, more preferably
between about
0.0015 to 0.15 percent by weight and most preferably between about 0.01 to
0.05 percent
by weight.
[0027] The ratio of the plant hormones, cytokinin and gibberellin, preferably
ranges
from 1:10 to 1:300 and more preferably from 1:20 to 1:40. A ratio of
approximately
1:30 is most preferable. Nonetheless, to obtain the best results, the absolute
amount of
the cytokinins and gibberellins must vary proportionally to the volume/weight
of the
treated plants and their fruit. The absolute amount of the cytokinins
preferably varies
between 1 to 300 mg per hectare of growing plants, but more preferably between
20 to
80 mg per hectare of growing plants. The absolute amount of the gibberellins
preferably
varies between 100 to 10,000 mg per hectare of growing plants, but more
preferably
between 500 to 2,500 mg per hectare of growing plants.
100281 The plant growth enhancing mixture optionally, but preferably, includes
one or
more minerals that assist in the uptake of the plant hormones by plant tissues
and/or
compliment the utilization of the plant hormones by the plant tissues.
Preferred minerals
include zinc, nitrogen, potassium, calcium and boron, with nitrogen,
potassium, calcium
and/or boron being the most preferred. The preferred application rate of
calcium and
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boron is 10 to 100 pounds calcium per acre and 1/4th to 2 pounds boron per
acre. The
minerals including nitrogen are preferably not pre-mixed with the plant
hormones, at
least not for an extended period of time, due to the risk of chemical
precipitation.
Instead, the minerals, if any, are preferably applied concurrently with the
plant hoimones
(e.g., by mixing the minerals and plant hormones at or just prior to
application).
Alternatively, any minerals may be applied prior to, or subsequently to, the
application
of the plant hormones. For convenience, the above quantities of plant hormones
and
minerals are given in terms of planted acres or hectares, however, the plant
growth
enhancing mixture is further envisioned to be applied to plant roots through
alternative
growing media, including but not limited to, hydroponics and aeroponics.
[0029] Typically, soybean plants require approximately five pounds of nitrogen
per
bushel of harvested soybeans. Of this quantity, about three pounds of nitrogen
are
created through the action of nitrogen-fixing bacteria at or near the roots
and about two
pounds of nitrogen are obtained from the soil in which the roots of the
soybeans are
growing. Others types of crop plants have similar, typical nitrogen
utilizations.
However, when the above-described plant hormones and/or minerals are applied
to the
soils/roots of growing plants, it has been discovered that the plants utilize
and are able to
utilize far greater amounts of nitrogen from the soil than would normally
occur. This is
an unexpected result, because such large amounts of nitrogen fertilization
typically
damage plant roots and/or are detrimental to plant health. The plant growth
enhancing
mixture, comprising cytokinin and gibberellin, may also stimulate nitrogen-
fixing
bacteria in the vicinity of the plant roots to continue fixing nitrogen from
the air into the
soil for a greater period of time than would normally occur.
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[0030] The nitrogen used in a preferred implementation of the plant growth
enhancing
mixture is preferably a liquid nitrogen fertilizer comprising approximately
one-half urea
and one-half ammonium nitrate. Such a liquid nitrogen fertilizer has a
nitrogen content
of about 28 to 32 percent and is preferably injected into the soil of the
plants to a depth
of between two to four inches. The total amount of liquid nitrogen fertilizer
applied to
the plants is preferably between 50 and 400 pounds of nitrogen per acre (i.e.,
56.0 to
448.3 kg per hectare), more preferably between 100 and 300 pounds of nitrogen
per acre
(i.e., 112.1 to 336.3 kg per hectare) and most preferably at about 200 lbs.
nitrogen per
acre (i.e., 224.2 kg per hectare). This total amount of liquid nitrogen
fertilizer may be
applied in a single application, as further described below, or may be split
into one or
more applications. Additional types of liquid nitrogen fertilizers, such as
anhydrous
ammonia, aqua ammonia and low-pressure 41% nitrogen solutions, may also be
employed as the nitrogen source, however, these additional types of liquid
nitrogen
fertilizers must be injected into the ground to avoid an atmospheric loss of
gaseous
ammonia (i.e., nitrogen).
[0031] The optimal amount of applied nitrogen is dependent on a number of
factors
with the most important being the type of plant. The application of
approximately 200
lbs. of nitrogen per planted acre (i.e., 224.2 kg/hectare) has shown favorable
results for
soybeans. Moreover, in a preferred implementation of the invention, the best
corn
growth has been realized with a greater nitrogen application of about 400 lbs.
of nitrogen
per planted acre (i.e., 448.3 kg/hectare). The liquid nitrogen fertilizer is
applied at the
same time as the plant hormones and other minerals, if any, or at a later time
before
flowering. Preferably, the liquid nitrogen fertilizer is blended with the
plant hormones
and other minerals, if any, just prior to application, such that only a single
field
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application of the homogenous mixture/combination is needed, thereby reducing
labor
and equipment costs that would otherwise be required due to a later nitrogen-
only field
application. While a single application of the plant growth enhancing mixture
containing
the liquid nitrogen fertilizer has been shown to provide good results for
single harvest
crops, an additional application of liquid nitrogen fertilizer after each of
one or more
harvests in multiple harvest crops (e.g., tomatoes), has been shown to be
beneficial, at
least in some crop plants. While the use of a liquid nitrogen fertilizer is
described above,
a granular nitrogen fertilizer may alternatively be employed. However, the
solid nitrogen
fertilizer may need to be applied to the soil of the growing plants in a
separate step from
the application of the plurality of plant hormones and any other minerals.
100321 In a preferred method of the invention, the plant growth enhancing
mixture is
readied and applied to the roots of growing plants, or via the soil in which
the plants are
growing, through drip irrigation. Other fertigation-type application methods
that may be
employed include, but are not limited to, broadcasting (e.g. conventional
irrigation) and
other types of placement application (e.g. side dressing; microjets, etc.).
Broadcast
application is an acceptable method, if sufficient irrigation is permitted to
wash the plant
growth enhancing mixture from the foliage and above-ground tissues of the
plants and
into the soil/roots. The plant growth enhancing mixture is preferably applied
after the
plants have approximately 4 to 6 leaves. There are only a few exceptions
wherein the
plant growth enhancing mixture may be applied to seeds or seedlings. One such
exception is to wheat crops and another is to epiphyte-like plants such as
pineapples.
The plant growth enhancing mixture is applied to the soil/roots preferably
just before or
during the reproductive stage (i.e., flowering) of plant development (i.e.,
between the
seedling and flowering stages of plant development). Soil/root application of
the plant
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growth enhancing mixture after flowering has been found to be less effective
and may
even have a deleterious effect, as further explained below. Similarly,
soil/root
application prior to the plant having a plurality of leaves or within 7 to 14
days of
transplantation is to be generally avoided.
100331 The plant growth enhancing mixture (without minerals) is preferably
applied to
the soil/roots at the rate of 0.1 to 10 pints per acre (i.e., 0.117 to 1.17
liters/hectare).
Additional types of plant treatments may be beneficial and produce synergistic
effects
when used in conjunction with the methods and compositions described herein.
For
example, plant treatment using a preferred composition of U.S. Patent No.
6,040,273,
issued to Dean, during the seedling stage may further improve the results
realized
through subsequent application of the plant growth enhancing mixture
containing the
liquid nitrogen fertilizer.
100341 The plant growth enhancing mixture comprising the plant hormones,
cytokinin
and gibberellin and minerals, but without liquid nitrogen fertilizer, is
organic. The
preferred liquid nitrogen fertilizer, however, is non-organic. Nevertheless,
organic
sources of nitrogen may be used in order to qualify the entire treatment as
organic,
environmentally green, and/or sustainable. Such organic nitrogen sources
include, but
are not limited to, animal manure, urine and feathers.
100351 Preferred implementations of the invention are further described in the
following several examples. However, these examples are not meant in any way,
and
should not be interpreted, to limit the scope of the invention disclosed
herein.
EXAMPLE 1
100361 In this example, the effect of the plant growth enhancing mixture on
the growth
of field-planted soybeans was studied. The cultivar of soybean planted was
Vernal.
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These soybeans were sown June 1, 2009, in a Weslaco, Texas field prepared
according to
state recommended fertilization practices for planting soybeans. A plant
growth
enhancing mixture of a preferred implementation was applied to soil in which
the field-
planted soybeans were growing at the reproductive (i.e., R2) stage of growth.
This plant
growth enhancing mixture had kinetin as the cytokinin at 0.03 % and GA3 as the
gibberellic acid (i.e., gibberellin) at 1.0%. The plant growth enhancing
mixture (without
minerals) was dispersed through drip irrigation at the rate of 2 pts/acre.
Liquid nitrogen
fertilizer (i.e., 50% urea and 50% ammonium nitrate) was applied through the
drip
irrigation system in three applications of 30 lbs. per acre of nitrogen each
(i.e., 33.6
kg/hectare) for a total application of 90 lbs. per acre (L e., 100.9
kg/hectare). The 30 lbs.
per acre (i.e., 33.6 kg/hectare) nitrogen fertilizer applications were applied
at four weeks
after sowing, six weeks after sowing and eight weeks after sowing. The plant
growth
enhancing mixture included the last nitrogen application at eight weeks after
sowing.
The soybeans were harvested on October 22, 2009.
[0037] The soybean yields for four replicates of an untreated, control,
normally-
managed soybean plot and four replicates of a soybean plot treated according
to the
above description were determined. The soybean yields for the four control
replicates
were 83.8 bushels per acre, 97.3 bushels per acre, 97.8 bushels per acre and
90.8 bushels
per acre. The average soybean yield for the four control plots was 92.4
bushels per acre
with a standard deviation of 6.6 bushels per acre. The soybean yields for the
four plant
growth enhancing mixture treated replicates were 171.8 bushels per acre, 164.8
bushels
per acre, 160.6 bushels per acre and 170.1 bushels per acre. The average
soybean yield
for the four treated plots was 166.8 bushels per acre with a standard
deviation of 5.1
bushels per acre. The statistical "t test" for significant difference between
the average
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yields of the control and the treated plots was p=0.0005, indicative of a
highly significant
difference.
EXAMPLE 2
100381 In this example, the preferred implementation of the cytokinin and
gibberellin
of the plant growth enhancing mixture of Example 1 were applied via drip
irrigation to
Spanish onions. The plant growth enhancing mixture (without minerals) was
applied at a
rate of 3 pts per acre into the soil in which the Spanish onions had been
transplanted in
Ethiopia, Washington on March 3, 2010. In addition to the state recommended
soil
preparation (i.e., fertilization) for the transplantation of onion plants, the
plant growth
enhancing mixture included a nitrogen side dressing that was applied to the
soil at a rate
of 10 lbs. nitrogen per acre at 10 weeks, 12 weeks and 14 weeks after
transplantation of
the onion plants. The Spanish onions were harvested on July 29 2010. The four
replicate experiments yield a total of 39,498 lbs. of onions (Duncan's p =
0.05 New
Multiple Range Test) while the four replicate control experiments yielded a
total of
21,725 lbs. of onions. Thus, the treated onions had an 81.8% increase in yield
over the
untreated (control) onions. It should be noted that the increase in yield of
the onions was
not an increase in the number of onions but in the increased size of the
onions.
EXAMPLE 3
100391 In this example, the effect of the plant growth enhancing mixture
treatment on
tomato plants was studied. As shown in Figure 1, the tomato plant (a) on the
left was not
treated with the cytokinin and gibberellin of the plant growth enhancing
mixture of
Example 1 while the tomato plant (b) on the right is shown at four weeks after
such
treatment. As is readily evident to one of ordinary skill in the art, the
treated tomato
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plant (b) is much greener (i.e., darker), healthier and better developed, and
has more
tomatoes, than the untreated tomato plant (a).
EXAMPLE 4
100401 In this example, the effect of the cytokinin and gibberellin of the
plant growth
enhancing mixture of Example 1 together with varying amounts of applied
nitrogen on
the growth of field-planted soybeans was studied. As shown in Figure 2, the
control
plant labeled (a) did not receive any application of the plant growth
enhancing mixture
(and no additional nitrogen beyond the state recommended fertilization in
conjunction
with soil preparation for planting). The plants labeled (b) through (e)
received an
application of the plant growth enhancing mixture (without minerals) at a rate
of 4 pints
per acre together with varying amounts of additional nitrogen, as follows:
plant (b)
received no added nitrogen, plant (c) received 60 pounds of nitrogen per acre,
plant (d)
received 120 pounds of nitrogen per acre and plant (e) received 180 pounds of
nitrogen
per acre. As can readily be seen from Figure 2, the plant (e) which received
the
application of the plant growth enhancing mixture together with the highest
amount of
nitrogen (e.g., 180 lbs./acre) also showed the most cellular growth, and
particularly, the
greatest development of soybeans. The plant (e) has at least a 30% increase in
soybean
yield over the control plant (a).
100411 Another feature of the invention is that the application of the plant
growth
enhancing mixture (with or without liquid nitrogen fertilizer) to plants using
one or more
of the previously described method(s) unexpectedly appears to suppress a
variety of
plant diseases and to promote insect resistance.
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EXAMPLE 5
[0042] In this example, the effect of the plant growth enhancing mixture on
soybean
plants under attack from severe Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) was studied. For
this
example, the plant growth enhancing mixture consisted of 2 pts/acre of 0.03%
cytokinin
and 1.0% gibberellin as well as 100 lbs. nitrogen and 100 lbs. potassium per
acre. As
shown in Figure 3, the harvested plant (a) on the left had SDS but was not
treated with
the plant growth enhancing mixture (with minerals). However, the harvested
plant (b) on
the right was treated with the plant growth enhancing mixture (with minerals).
The
photograph of plant (b) shows that, even while suffering the complications of
SDS, the
plant growth enhancing mixture facilitates the plant's growth and crop
development.
The SDS does not appear to have decreased nitrogen utilization in the treated
plant
whereas the SDS has take a significant toll on the growth and crop development
of the
untreated plant. It should be noted that both plants (a) and (b) were planted
in soil
fertilized according to state recommended practices.
EXAMPLE 6
[0043] In this example, the effect of the plant growth enhancing mixture on
soybean
plants under attack from severe SDS was observed. The cultivar of the soybeans
planted
was Asgrow 2403 and the soybeans were sown in an Ames, Iowa field, which had
been
prepared for planting using the state recommended fertilization practices. The
soybeans
were planted on April 29, 2010 and harvested on October 3, 2010. As shown in
the
Table, eight different experiments were conducted involving eight replicates
per
experiment. The treated plants showing the most enhancement were those of
experiment
six, which saw a 62% growth rate over the control plants of experiment one.
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100441 A plant growth enhancing mixture of a preferred implementation was
applied to
soil in which the field-planted soybeans were growing at the reproductive
stage of
growth (R2). This plant growth enhancing mixture had kinetin as the cytokinin
at 0.03
% and GA3 as the gibberellic acid (i.e., gibberellin) at 1.0%. While the soil
was
fertilized according to state recommended practices prior to planting, the
plant growth
enhancing mixture also included additional liquid nitrogen fertilizer (i.e.,
50% urea and
50% ammonium nitrate), which was applied through a drip irrigation system in
the
amounts provided in the accompanying Table.
100451 The soybean yields were determined for an untreated, control, nonnally-
managed diseased soybean plot (experiment one) and for seven additional
soybean plots
(experiments two through eight) treated with various amounts of the plant
growth
enhancing mixture. As shown in the Table, each experiment consisted of eight
replicates. The plots used in these experiments had an area of 25 square feet.
The
soybean yields for the eight typical, diseased control replicates were 8.39
bushels per
acre, 9.6 bushels per acre, 13.9 bushels per acre, 19.7 bushels per acre, 9.6
bushels per
acre, 13.6 bushels per acre, 25.2 bushels per acre and 18.5 bushels per acre.
The average
soybean yield for the eight control plots was 14.8 bushels per acre with a
standard
deviation of 5.9 bushels per acre.
100461 The soybean yields for the eight plant growth enhancing mixture treated
replicates at a dose rate of 2 pt per acre, were 12.2 bushels per acre, 22
bushels per acre,
23.4 bushels per acre, 32.1 bushels per acre, 14.5 bushels per acre, 15.9
bushels per acre,
24 bushels per acre and 21.7 bushels per acre. The average soybean yield for
the eight
treated plots at a dose of 2 pt per acre was 20.8 bushels per acre with a
standard deviation
of 6.4 bushels per acre. The statistical "t test" for significant difference
between the
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average yields of the control and the treated plots was p=0.006, indicative of
a highly
significant difference.
100471 The soybean yields for the eight plant growth enhancing mixture treated
replicates at a dose rate of 4 pt per acre, were 11 bushels per acre, 25.2
bushels per acre,
31 bushels per acre, 23.2 bushels per acre, 21.2 bushels per acre, 25.2
bushels per acre,
32.7 bushels per acre and 22.3 bushels per acre. The average soybean yield for
the eight
treated plots at a dose of 4 pt per acre was 24 bushels per acre with a
standard deviation
of 6.6 bushels per acre. The statistical "t test" for significant difference
between the
average yields of the control and the treated plots was p=0.003, indicative of
a highly
significant difference.
100481 The soybean yields for the eight plant growth enhancing mixture treated
replicates at a dose rate of 8 pt per acre, were 17.7 bushels per acre, 24
bushels per acre,
18.5 bushels per acre, 10.1 bushels per acre, 23.2 bushels per acre, 16.2
bushels per acre,
16.2 bushels per acre and 24.9 bushels per acre. The average soybean yield for
the eight
treated plots at a dose of 8 pt per acre was 18.9 bushels per acre with a
standard deviation
of 5.0 bushels per acre. The statistical "t test" for significant difference
between the
average yields of the control and the treated plots was p=0.13, indicative of
a non-
significant difference.
100491 The soybean yields for the eight fertilizer-only treated replicates at
a dose rate
of 100 lb. of nitrogen and 100 lb. of potassium per acre, were 23.4 bushels
per acre, 26
bushels per acre, 28.7 bushels per acre, 15.3 bushels per acre, 8.1 bushels
per acre, 15.3
bushels per acre, 28.9 bushels per acre and 22.9 bushels per acre. The average
soybean
yield for the eight fertilizer-only treated plots was 21.1 bushels per acre
with a standard
deviation of 7.4 bushels per acre. The statistical "t test" for significant
difference
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between the average yields of the control and the treated plots was p=0.03,
indicative of
a significant difference at the 5 % level.
10050] Experiments conducted in disease-ridden soybean plots (i.e., for the
purposes of
indicating whether the treatments can suppress the effect of the disease) very
often show
a high level of variability among replicate plots. Therefore, a larger number
of
replicates-8 replicates versus the more normal 4 replicates per
treatment¨becomes
necessary. As demonstrated in this example, the dose rate of 2 pt per acre of
the plant
hormones of the plant growth enhancing mixture, along with the
nitrogen/potassium
fertilizer included in the mixture, yielded a suboptimal 20.8 bushels per acre
even though
this yield was 40.5 % over the control untreated plot. At the dose rate of 4
pt per acre,
the yield was the largest of the replicates at 24 bushels per acre with a
62.2% increase in
yield over the control plots. At the highest dose rate of 8 pt per acre, the
yield was 21.2
bushels per acre with a 42.6% increase in yield over the control plots. Thus,
the highest
dose rate of the plant hormones in the plant growth enhancing mixture is too
high for
optimal yields.
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TABLE
Exp Diff. Ave
Ave "t" test RE RE RE RE RE RE RE RE
. from g bushel vs. P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8
contr per s per control
ol% plot acre g g g g g g g g
p= per per per per per per per per
plot plot plot plot plot plot plot plot
1 n/a 231. 14.8 n/a 132 150
218 308 150 213 395 290
9
2 41 327. 20.9
0.0008 263 363 386 444 240 290 336 299
7 7
3 28 296. 18.9 0.1444 367 299 526 322 99. 268 213
6 9 8 278
4 -21 182. 11.7 n/a 109 159
218 127 145 99. 190 408
0 8
41 324. 20.8 0.0060 190 345 367 504 227 250 376 340
9 3
6 62 375. 24.0
0.0027 172 395 485 513 363 331 395 349
4 0
7 28 295. 18.9
0.1258 277 376 290 159 363 254 254 390
4 1
8 43 330. 21.1
0.0316 367 408 449 240 127 240 454 358
6 4
Experiments:
1. Control (state recommended fertilization practices).
2. Seed treatment, A at 4 ounces per cwt of seed.
3. Seed treatment, A at 8 ounces per cwt of seed.
4. Seed treatment, C at 6 ounces per cwt of seed.
5. [In furrow A at 1 pt; before flowering side dressing C at 2 pt, 1001bs. N
and 1001bs.
K] /acre.
6. [In furrow A at 1 pt; before flowering side dressing C at 4 pt, 1001bs. N
and 1001bs.
K] /acre.
7. [In furrow A at 1 pt; before flowering side dressing C at 8 pt, 1001bs. N
and 1001bs.
K] /acre.
8. Control and side dressing of [100 lbs. N and 100 lbs. K] /acre.
A = A preferred implementation of the composition of U.S. Patent No.
6,040,273;
C = The plant growth enhancing mixture of Example 1.
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EXAMPLE 7
10051] Zebra chip, or papa rayada, is a devastating disease in many parts of
the United
States that adversely affects potatoes. Zebra chip takes its name from the
black colored
stripes that are often found in potato chips produced from potatoes affected
by the
disease. In this example, the effect of the plant growth enhancing mixture on
potato
plants under attack from zebra chip was observed. The cultivar was Frito Lay
1875
potatoes. These potatoes were planted in Weslaco, Texas on January 5, 2010 and
harvested on April 27, 2010. The recommended state fertilization practices
were applied
to a control plot of the planted potatoes (i.e., 100 lbs. nitrogen per acre).
10052] To the remaining planted potatoes, the cytokinin and gibberellin of the
plant
growth enhancing mixture of Example 6 were applied to the soil at the rate of
1 pint per
acre in which the potatoes were growing. The potatoes treated with this plant
growth
enhancing mixture did not receive any additional nitrogen fertilizer as
compared to the
potatoes of the control plot (i.e., the plant growth enhancing mixture did not
contain any
nitrogen application). Furthermore, the plant growth enhancing mixture applied
to the
potato plants of this example did not include any other minerals, such as
calcium, boron
or zinc. At harvest, the control potatoes yielded a paltry 47 bags per acre
(i.e., 47,000
lbs./acre at 100 lbs. per bag) and 59% of the potato chips produced from these
control
potatoes had indications of zebra chip. Conversely, the treated potatoes
yielded 197 bags
per acre (i.e., 197,000 lbs./acre) and only 15% of the potato chips produced
from the
treated potatoes had indications of zebra chip. These differences between the
control and
treated potatoes are highly significant from a statistical point of view
(i.e., p<0.01).
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EXAMPLE 8
100531 In this example, the ability of the plant growth enhancing mixture to
suppress
Phytophthora in peppers was studied. Phytophthora has proven to be a very
difficult
fungus to suppress in several crop plants. The cultivar used in this study was
Tomcat, a
cultivar particularly susceptible to Phytophthora, was transplanted on June
16, 2010, in
Bridgeton, New Jersey. The peppers were harvested on August 17th, September
9th and
October 8th of 2010.
100541 The plant growth enhancing mixture of a preferred implementation
consisted of
the plant hormones as described in Example 6, the minerals calcium and boron
(1/2
pt/acre of 6.5% calcium solution; 1 pt/acre of 9% boron solution) and a
sufficient amount
of nitrogen fertilizer compounds to apply 100 lbs. of nitrogen per acre. The
plant
hormones of the plant growth enhancing mixture were applied to the soil in
which the
transplanted peppers were growing at a dose rate of 1 pt/acre. The replicate
with the
greatest infection of Phytophthora experienced a 29% increased yield of
peppers over the
yield obtained from the control plots grown using state recommended
fertilization
practices. Furthermore, the weekly rate of increased disease (i.e., killed
plants) was
significantly higher in the control pepper plants at 11.3% versus 2.5% for the
plants
treated with the growth enhancing mixture. In other words, after a four weeks,
45.2%
(i.e., 11.3% x 4) of the control plants had been killed by phythophthora while
only 10%
(i.e., 2.5% x 4) of the treated plants had been killed. The plant growth
enhancing
mixture's ability to effectively suppress phythophthora disease is unexpected
and is
believed to be more effective than other commonly used fungicidal methods or
compositions.
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EXAMPLE 9
[0055] In this example, the effect of the plant growth enhancing mixture on
tomato
plants infected by tomato leaf curl virus was studied in a south Texas field.
The leaves
of tomato plant (a), shown on the left side of Figure 4, are severely
distorted by tomato
leaf curl virus. The cytokinin and gibberellin of the plant growth enhancing
mixture of
Example 6 were applied to the soil in which these tomato plants, infected by
tomato leaf
curl virus, were growing. The cytokinin and gibberellin were applied on
October 31,
2010, at the rate of 10 pts/acre. The plant growth enhancing mixture also
included the
minerals, calcium, boron and nitrogen, which were concurrently applied. A
solution of
5% calcium at the rate of 1 pt/acre and a solution of boron at the rate of 3
pts/acre.
Nitrogen was applied by side dressing at the rate of 200 lbs. nitrogen per
acre. The
tomato plant (b) shown on the right side of Figure 4 was photographed on
November 5,
2010, and shows the effect of the plant growth enhancing mixture on the
diseased tomato
plants just five days after treatment. One of ordinary skill in the art can
readily recognize
the rapid improvement in plant health after a single treatment. Such
improvement is
unexpected and has not been previously shown. Furthermore, gene expression
studies
were also conducted during the five day treatment period. The plant innate
immunity
genes, PR-1 and PR-5, were shown to be greatly up-regulated as a result of the
specified
plant growth enhancing mixture treatment.
EXAMPLE 10
[0056] Another feature of the invention is that the plant growth enhancing
mixture
may be used to strengthen both weak and strong flowers. As mentioned above,
the plant
growth enhancing mixture is normally not applied to the foliage, flowers,
and/or soil or
roots of a plant after the start of the reproductive stage of the plant
development (i.e.,
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during flowering). However, the plant growth enhancing mixture may be applied
to
flowering plants to cause weak flowers to be aborted and stronger flower to be
strengthened. The application of the plant growth enhancing mixture for such
purpose
need not be in conjunction with a nitrogen fertilizer (i.e., the plant growth
enhancing
mixture comprising cytokinin and gibberellin, and optionally, minerals except
nitrogen).
EXAMPLE 11
[0057] Another feature of the invention is that the plant growth enhancing
mixture
may be used to strengthen growth of corn plant roots (Figure 5). The roots on
the top of
the image are from the untreated corn plant while those at the bottom of the
image are
from treatment with the mixture at the rate of 4 ounces per acre, applied as
an in furrow
treatment over the seed at sowing time, just before closure of the open furrow
into which
the seed is dropped along with the liquid mixture, before closure (burial) of
seed and
mixture with soil from the sides of the furrow. Roots of the treated plants
grew much
deeper in to the soil and therefore have a distinct advantage over the
untreated plant roots
both for garnering more nutrients but also water at deeper soil depths under
water deficit
conditions.
[0058] Not only do the roots from the treated plants grow deeper and therefore
into
lower soil areas, which provides the of extra nutrients and extra water under
various
forms of drought, but the roots remain actively growing throughout the growing
season
of the crop. For example, the radicle roots (the roots that are first formed
from the seed)
from the untreated plants are very dark, indicating essentially a dead root
system (Figure
6). Moreover the radicle roots are rather thin and spindly, and therefore less
active in
transporting water and nutrients to the top portions of the crop plant. In
contrast, as
shown in figure 7, note how light in color the mesocotyl, above the radicle
root system,
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is, even well into completion of the growth of the crop. Not only is the color
lighter,
indicating active growth, but the "piping system" for transport of substrates
is thicker
and shorter, indicating a more functional transport system for water and
nutrients. The
"bulges" on the radicle roots from both plants in figures 6 and 7 are the
remains of the
seeds.
[0059] Another parameter of the treated plants is that the fresh weights of
the roots of
the treated plants (137 grams) are much more developed than those of the
untreated
plants (60 grams) for n=5, with a statistically very significant difference of
p< 0.01.
[0060] Another parameter of the treatment mixture on plant growth is that the
circumference of the stalk of the treated plant (7.96 cm) is statistically
very significantly
different (p< 0.01) than the circumference of the untreated plant (6.52 cm).
[0061] Another parameter of the treatment mixture on crop plant growth is that
the
weight of the ear, i.e., the "cob," and seeds of the treated plant (142.2
grams) is
statistically very significantly different (p< 0.01) from the untreated plant
(89.4 grams).
[0062] Another parameter of the treatment mixture on crop plant growth is that
the
number of rows of seeds on the ear of the treated plants (14.4) is
statistically very
significantly different (p< 0.01) from the untreated plant (12.8).
[0063] Another parameter of the treatment mixture on ear growth of the treated
crop
plant is a greater diameter (11.68 cm), with statistically very significant
difference (p<
0.01) contrasted to the untreated plant (10.1 cm).
EXAMPLE 12
[0064] Another feature of the invention is that the plant growth enhancing
mixture
may be used to strengthen growth of dicot plants such as pepper or tomato
(Figure 8). In
this image, the untreated plant (n=5), at the bottom of the image, has a fresh
weight of
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4.2 pounds. In contrasted the treated plant at the top of the image has a very
significantly
(p< 0.01) higher fresh weight (9.6 pounds).
[0065] Another parameter of the treatment mixture on tomato crop plant growth
is the
number of tomatoes per plant. There were 67 tomatoes per plant on the
untreated plants,
compared to a very statistically significant increase (p= <0.01) for the
treated plants of
166 tomatoes per plant (n=5).
[0066] Another parameter of the treatment mixture on tomato crop plant growth
is the
weight of the tomatoes per plant. The weight of the untreated plant fruit was
3.7 pounds
per plant, whereas the very statistically higher (p< 0.01) fruit weight for
the treated plant
was 11.9 grams per plant.
[0067] Another parameter of the treatment mixture on tomato crop plant growth
is the
increased number of branches (see Figure 8).
[0068] To verify this universality of increase in branching for dicotyledon
plants, a
pepper experiment transplanted and treated in the same manner and on the same
dates as
the tomato experiment, was also done in Texas. The number of branches for the
untreated plant was 5.75 branches per plant (the higher number of branches
implies a
potentially higher yields as with the tomato plant) while the number of
branches for the
treated plant (7.55) was very statistically significantly greater (p< 0.01)
then the
untreated control plant.
[0069] The Abstract of the disclosure is written solely for providing the
United States
Patent and Trademark Office and the public at large with a means by which to
determine
quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical
disclosure, and it
represents one preferred implementation and is not indicative of the nature of
the
invention as a whole.
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[0070] While some implementations of the invention have been illustrated in
detail,
the invention is not limited to the implementations shown; modifications and
adaptations
of the disclosed implementations may occur to those skilled in the art. Such
modifications and adaptations are in the spirit and scope of the invention as
set forth in
the claims hereinafter:
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